“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.” ~Vera Myers

One of the activities in life that cause the most anxiety in life is being picked or not picked for a team.

I don’t care if it’s playing kickball at recess, or the debate team in middle school or high school, or the big project that can earn you a promotion or raise at work.

Picking teams

We all know how that works.

He got picked because he’s part of the “good ole boys”. Of course she got the part, look who she hangs with at lunch. And so it continues. Being part of the club means you get ahead or at least you’re asked to join.

It’s sad. The lack of diversity is apparent everywhere. Not only in our schools, where the person chosen as the leader always picks his/her friends first, but even in the workplace. They say that they want the best person for the job, but the position still goes to a friend.

We especially see it in our government- at the federal, state, and township levels. Committee and board positions are filled by friends. The officials know that these people will go along with their plans or ideas no matter how bad the idea might be for the general public.

A true leader doesn’t select only the people he/she is comfortable with. If leaders do not reach out and select new people, people with different ideas, their organization will not grow. The organization will never improve. It will stagnate. Outstanding people, people who can move the organization forward, are often the people the “so called” leaders don’t like or want in their “group”.

If you are a leader – a true leader – you will welcome and seek out people whose ideas are different from yours.

Now some organizations claim to be diverse. The have people with different backgrounds. They accept people regardless of their ethnic group or sexual preferences. They make sure they have the proper male/female balance. They claim to be diverse.

Oh, yes, on the surface it looks diverse. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll find that this group is really not inclusive.

It does not include people who have different, possibly innovative ideas. This leader doesn’t want his or her plans challenged by someone who sees things a little differently.

So, what is a good leader?

A good leader surround himself with people who have different ideas.

A good leader allows others to disagree and even challenge the idea without any fear of retaliation.

A good leader knows that true strength comes from differences. Because it is the differences that blend  together and produce a great result.

A great leader welcomes to the opportunity to create culture within the organization, whether it’s the school teams or government boards, that promotes and accepts differences.

We all have the opportunity to demonstrate our leadership abilities even when we are not chosen as the captain of the team. We do this by requesting the inclusion of other peoples’ ideas. Then, finding a way to incorporate at least one aspect of the idea if not the entirety.

It is in our benefit to practice diversity and inclusion. That is the only way we and everyone around us can grow and fulfill our dreams and goals.

What will you do to achieve inclusion in your organization? Let’s work together to make it happen. Let’s work together to build a diverse team where everyone counts.

Linda Watson-Call has a history of achieving her goals and succeeding through difficulties. Her book LIVING! an abundant life is available on Amazon on Kindle and in paperback. Her series, Dragonfly Soup, can be seen on YouTube and Facebook.